Groundbreaking Scheduled For Mormon Temple In Farmington

FARMINGTON — Ground will be broken next month to begin construction of the state's first Mormon temple.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, which chose Farmington as the site for the temple in 2012, will hold an official groundbreaking ceremony Aug. 17 for invited guests and members of the church.

"This is a very exciting time for the members of the Church in Connecticut. The groundbreaking draws us one step closer to the rich blessings that the temple will bring," Wayne Taylor, president of the Hartford chapter – or "stake" – of the church, said in a release.

The main temple building, located at the corner of Melrose Drive and Farmington Avenue, will be about 25,000 square feet. The plans also call for three additional structures, one of about 2,000 square feet and two of about 700 square feet, one of which will be a garage.

Currently, site prep work is underway, including the demolition of five houses and an office building located on the 11-acre site. Two of the houses were occupied and those residents have relocated, according to the parcel's previous owner, Peter Fishman.

The town's planning and zoning commission voted in favor of the project in June 2012 despite the concerns of some residents over the increased traffic on already busy Route 4.

Board Chairman Phil Dunn said the commission felt that traffic concerns were not a reason to deny the project. He said several factors could affect traffic, including the times the temple is used, the destruction of the office building and roadway enhancements, including removing curb cuts on Route 4.

Neil McMurdie, a local spokesperson for the church, said the temple will be used by about 20,000 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints members, including almost 15,000 members in the state.

"It's turning out to be ideal," McMurdie said of the temple's location. "The temple district will serve members in western Massachusetts, all of Connecticut and portions of Rhode Island, and parts of north and eastern New York."

McMurdie said, however, that Mormon temples – unlike other churches – are used for individual and family services attended by small groups. The temple will be used weekdays and Saturdays and will be closed on Sundays. McMurdie said that even if all the rooms were being used at once, the temple would accommodate about 350 people.

McMurdie said the team charged with building the temple – based in Salt Lake City – is reviewing bids for the project.

He said the goal is to have the temple finished by the fall of 2015. Once construction is complete, the church will hold an open house for members of the community and an official opening ceremony for church members only, he said.

The two closest Mormon temples for Connecticut members are in New York City and Belmont, Mass.